Cairo: Fire and fury marked the sentencing of Arab world's first toppled dictator Hosni Mubarak with people scuffling in the court premises as soon as the judgement was pronounced.

Cairo Criminal Court had sentenced Hosni Mubarak and his Interior Minister Habib el-Adli to life in prison over charges of complicity in the killing of protesters during the January 25 revolution.

Families of those killed in uprisings throughout Egypt's governorates were outraged at the court's decision, which also acquitted all Adli's cronies.

In Suez governorate, many of the victim's families were disappointed with the court ruling, saying that it acquitted the aides of el-Adli, who killed their sons.

"We will not give up the blood of martyrs," said Tamer Radwan, a brother of one of Suez victims.

"We reject this ruling which acquitted Gamal and Alaa Mubarak," said Gamal el-Wardani, the father of one of the victims, who added that it was important to issue a court ruling against Mubarak's sons.

Calls to revive the revolution were once again heard in Tahrir Square.

"Revenge...Revenge... They shot dead our children," dozens of protesters in Tahrir Square chanted displeased with the ruling, while others closed side streets leading to the square.

The protesters went on a march toward Talaat Harb Square demanding that the regime be purged. Families of a number of victims announced that they were heading to Tahrir Square after the ruling failed to appease their anguish.

As the news of the sentence came through to hundreds of protesters and relatives of victims outside the court compound, jubilation erupted with dozens of anti-Mubarak protesters jumping up and down and waving Egyptian flags and their fists in the air.

Scuffles then broke out between Mubarak supporters and opponents inside and outside the courtroom after the verdict was read.

Riot police also clashed with protesters. According to reports, rock throwing and fist fights left at least 20 people injured.

Mubarak trial ruling fails to deliver justice: Rights groups

The acquittal of six security chiefs, on trial with Hosni Mubarak over the killing of protesters last year, fails to deliver justice and could continue to encourage a culture of police impunity, rights groups said on Saturday.

Ousted leader Mubarak and his interior minister Habib al-Adly were sentenced to life in prison, but the six security commanders were found innocent.

Mubarak's sentence "is a significant step towards combating long-standing impunity in Egypt" but the security chiefs' acquittal "leaves many still waiting for full justice," Amnesty International said in a statement.

"Many see the acquittal of all the senior security officials as a sign that those responsible for human rights violations can still escape justice," Amnesty said.

"The verdict fails to deliver justice, it fails to deter police from future abuse and it comes against the backdrop of acquittals in police trials," Heba Morayef, Cairo-based researcher for Human Rights Watch, said.

"Today's verdict will continue to protect the impunity of the interior ministry for violence against protesters," she said.

"Every law student has heard of the statute of limitations, yet prosecutors conveniently forgot about this in referring Gamal and Alaa Mubarak to trial," Morayef said.